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The Resource States of sympathy : seduction and democracy in the American novel, Elizabeth Barnes

States of sympathy : seduction and democracy in the American novel, Elizabeth Barnes

Creator
Summary
States of Sympathy calls for a new approach to reading early American fiction and politics, one that recognizes sympathy as crucial to the construction of American identity: to read sympathetically becomes synonymous with reading like an American. Examining philosophical and political texts alongside literary ones, Elizabeth Barnes explores the extent to which sympathy and sentiment are increasingly employed to construct the notion of a politically affective state. Barnes demonstrates how the family comes to represent the ideal model for social and political affiliations. Familial feeling proves the foundations for sympathy and sympathy the foundation for democracy. In holding up the family as a model for sociopolitical union, however, sentimental rhetoric conflates the boundaries between familial and sociosexual ties, resulting in a confusion of familial and erotic attachment. The distinction between licit and illicit love - exemplified in numerous stories about incest and seduction - becomes a preoccupying theme in American literature. While such stories have often been read as a manifestation of anxieties about corruption in the young republic, Barnes provocatively argues that incest and seduction actually represent the logical outcome of nineteenth-century American culture's most deeply held values
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Extent
xvi, 152 pages
Isbn
9780231108782
Instance
Label
States of sympathy : seduction and democracy in the American novel
Title
States of sympathy
Title remainder
seduction and democracy in the American novel
Statement of responsibility
Elizabeth Barnes
Creator
Subject
Language
eng
Summary
States of Sympathy calls for a new approach to reading early American fiction and politics, one that recognizes sympathy as crucial to the construction of American identity: to read sympathetically becomes synonymous with reading like an American. Examining philosophical and political texts alongside literary ones, Elizabeth Barnes explores the extent to which sympathy and sentiment are increasingly employed to construct the notion of a politically affective state. Barnes demonstrates how the family comes to represent the ideal model for social and political affiliations. Familial feeling proves the foundations for sympathy and sympathy the foundation for democracy. In holding up the family as a model for sociopolitical union, however, sentimental rhetoric conflates the boundaries between familial and sociosexual ties, resulting in a confusion of familial and erotic attachment. The distinction between licit and illicit love - exemplified in numerous stories about incest and seduction - becomes a preoccupying theme in American literature. While such stories have often been read as a manifestation of anxieties about corruption in the young republic, Barnes provocatively argues that incest and seduction actually represent the logical outcome of nineteenth-century American culture's most deeply held values
Cataloging source
DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Barnes, Elizabeth
Dewey number
813.009/358
Index
index present
LC call number
PS374.S97
LC item number
B37 1997
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • American fiction
  • Sympathy in literature
  • American fiction
  • Domestic fiction, American
  • Didactic fiction, American
  • Politics and literature
  • Sentimentalism in literature
  • Romans
  • Amerikaans
  • Sentimentalisme
  • Politiek
  • Roman américain
  • Sympathie dans la littérature
  • Roman américain
  • Roman familial américain
  • Roman didactique américain
  • Politique et littérature
  • Sentimentalisme dans la littérature
  • Roman américain
  • Roman américain
  • Littérature sentimentale
  • Roman familial américain
  • Politique et littérature
  • Sympathie <Motiv>
  • Verführung <Motiv>
  • Roman
  • USA
  • Amerikaans
  • Littérature sentimentale
  • Politiek
  • Romans
  • Sentimentalisme
Label
States of sympathy : seduction and democracy in the American novel, Elizabeth Barnes
Instantiates
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages [127]-146) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Control code
36245580
Dimensions
24 cm
Extent
xvi, 152 pages
Isbn
9780231108782
Isbn Type
(alk. paper)
Lccn
96053284
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
System control number
(OCoLC)36245580
Label
States of sympathy : seduction and democracy in the American novel, Elizabeth Barnes
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages [127]-146) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Control code
36245580
Dimensions
24 cm
Extent
xvi, 152 pages
Isbn
9780231108782
Isbn Type
(alk. paper)
Lccn
96053284
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
System control number
(OCoLC)36245580

Subject

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